Veneer drier



AJS. NICHOLS.

VENEER DRIER.

APPUCATION FILED JULY. 1916' Patented 00. 3,1922

A. S. NICHOLS.

VENEER DRIER.

APPLICATION HLED JULY3I. lulu,

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.,

3 SHEETS SHEET $942 A. S. NICHOLS.

VENEER DRIER.

APPLICA ION FILED JULY3I. I916.

Patented Oct. 3, 192;.

1A3L13n.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Get. 3, i222.

UNHT

Lanna AARUN S. NICHOLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VENEER DRIER.

Application filed July 31,

'To all whomz't may concern:

platen operating valve in veneer driers.

v A. principal object of this invention is the provision of a platen control which will periodically open and close the platens in such a drier and which may be adjusted to' vary the periodic time within wide limits.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a control for driers of this character which will not require the provision of any power driven mechanical parts in its construction.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a control of this character which may be operated hydraulically from the main which supplies the water under pressure for the operation of the platen operating ram or rams as willbe more fully later explained.

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a hydraulic control for a platen operating ram which will be of sensitive conf struction and operation and designed to permit it to be used in hydraulic systems having considerable higher pressure than the parts of the control are adapted to withstand. 2

Another object of the invention is the provision of a platen operating control for veneer driers which will possess these and other advantages and which will consist of few and simple parts so constructed and arranged as to require little manipulation for adjustment and as to insure against 1 costly and frequent repair and replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a veneer drier and showing a platen control embodying my present invention;

1916. Serial No. 112,251.

Fig. 2 is a section through the valve provided for controlling a plalten operating ram;

Fig. 3 is a section through the water motor provided to control the action of said valve.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the means for locking the movable part of the valve in elevated position.

Fig. 5 is a section on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation shown partly in section of the water motor.

F or the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown on the drawing a veneer drier comprising generally a frame 11 in which are secured a series of veneer drier platens 12. These platens are heated in any preferred manner by steam connections 13. The veneer to be dried is interposed between the individual members of the series 12 of platens and these platens are then caused to close together under the action of a hydraulic ram 14. In the embodiment of the invention shown on the drawing a single ram only is depicted. It will, however, be understood that the ram shown may be considered to be duplicated in the part of the machine not shown and the two rams thus present operated to move the platens toward each other simultaneously from the two ends of the drier. This, however, has nothing to do with my present invention and the showing on the drier is believed to be sufficient. I

The particular construction of the hydraulic ram 14 is unimportant but it may be mentioned that it has a connection 15 with a water main 16 in which water under pressure is maintained. v

The main 16 has an operative connection through a valve 18 with the ram 14. This connection comprises a pipe 19 leadingto an inlet 21 in the valve casing 20 and an outlet 22 connected by a pipe 23 with the ram. The valve 18 is a 3-way valve and when the movable valve member or plunger 24 is in lowered position communication is established betweenthe ports 21 and 22. When it is raised communication is established between the port 22 and waste outlet port 25 connected with a waste pipe 26. The 3-way valve is of the plunger type and is shown in detail on the drawing. It is I thought, however, that only a description of its general characteristics need be given as any appropriate valve may be used.

A control mechanism for operating this valve is provided which in accordance with my invention gives to the plunger or movable part 24 a periodic opening and closing movement producing a corresponding movement of the ram 14. It is desirable that the periodic time action or reciprocation of this valve be subject to adjustment so that it may remain closed and opened at longer or shorter periods as the stock operated upon in the drier is heavy or light or as the stock operated upon may require because of any special characteristics it may possess. This control mechanism comprises a combination of mechanical and hydraulic actuating means either or both of which may be made adjustable for the purpose of altering the operation of the valve. In the present instance the valve is mounted upon the frame as indicated in- Fig. 1 and the lower end 27 of the stem or plunger 24 extends outside the casing and beneath it in position to bear upon the upper end of a stem 28 of a water motor 29. The construction of this motor is more particularly shown in Fig. 3 and it i is intended that it shall lift. the plunger or moving part 24 of the valve periodically and at greater or less speed as conditions may require. Many details of construction of this water motor are not important to the understanding of this invention. It may be mentioned, however, that this motor comprises a casing 31 in which a piston 32 is adapted to move which piston carries a piston stem or rod 28 extending through a closure 34 into contact with the lower end of the moving part 24 of the valve. This water motor is connected with the main 16, the connection in the present instance being in the casing 20 of the valve 18. A pipe 35 communicates with the inlet 21 of the valve casing, being let in at 36. The connection 35 communicates with the water motor through the inlet 37 and introduces water into a valve control chamber 38 adapted to alternately deliver water to the upper and lower sides of the piston 32 of the water motor; to the lower side through an annular port 39 and the upper side throu h an annular port 41. From the port 39 t e water passes into a chamber 42 communieating at 43 with the underside of the piston and through the port 41 through a chamber 44, pipe 45 and inlet 46 with the upperside. .The connection 35 is provided with a hand-adjustable needle valve 47 which controls the delivery of water to the motor and through the control of this delivery wholly or in part permits of adjustment of the actuation of the valve 18. The lower end 27 of the movable part of the valve is caused to follow with the stem 28 of the motor piston by a mechanical device which moves the valve in its downward stroke. This mechanical device consists of a lever 51 pivoted on an arm 52 which in turn is pivoted at 53 on the valve casing. This lever is pivotally connected at 54 with the upper end 55 of the movable part of the valve and is provided with a weight 56 which may be adjusted lengthwise of the arm to control the lever force. Movement of the weight along the arm varies the pressure exerted downwardly upon the movable part of the valve 18 and in this way aids in the adjustment of thedelivery of water to the water motor through the interposition of a pressure head against which the inflowing water is received. It will be understood that either feature of adjustment may be used to vary the rate of operation of the ram or both may be employed.

A relief valve 61 of any usual or preferred construction is provided in connection 35 to prevent admission of water at too high pressure to the motor. Veneer dryers are sometimes employed in connection with water systems using high powered hydraulic mechanisms and devices so this relief valve is desirablealthough not necessary when water under normal pressure is available.

In order that the valve 18 may be rendered inoperative, i. e. with the movable part elevated, I provide a yoke 62 pivoted upon the lever also at 54 which yoke when turned to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 is adapted to prevent the weight causing the movable part of the valve to move down- 100 wardly as the piston of the water motor is lowered.

It will of course be understood that either the chamber 42 or the chamber 44 of the water motor is incommunication with a 105 waste outlet 63, the parts being shown arranged With the part 44 in communication with the waste in Fig. 3. Whenthe valve member 64 of the watermotor is lowered by the movement of the piston, the chamber 110 42 communicates through :the passage, 65 with the waste 63.

In practice I have found-it advisable to use the needle valve as the'means of adjusting the rate of delivery of water to the water motor and to construct the valve and water motor so that the water motor has a much longer stroke than the moving valve part, the purpose of this being to prolon the time during which the platens are close120 with relation to a. complete cycle of operation. When so constructed the valve member moves down with the piston of the wa-.

ter motor until the valve member reaches the lower end of its stroke; thereafter it remains stationary and the platens closed until the iston of the water motor has moved upwar ly on its return stroke a sufficient distance to engage the valve member and lift it to establish communication between the waste and the ram. When thus constructed little or no adjusting influence can be exerted by the mechanical means for moving the movable valve member downwardly, because of the relative shortness of the period in which the movable member is in engagement with the stem of the piston.

The period during which the valve stem is down and the platen operating ram pressing the platens together may be varied by lengthening or shortening either the valve stem or the piston stem of the water motor. To this end I have provided in the embodiment of the invention shown on the drawings a sleeve 67 threadedly engaged upon the upper end of the stem 28 of the piston of the water motor. This stem may be turned up or down to lengthen or shorten the effective length of this stem so that the duration of time the stems are disengaged may be shortened or lengthened and the duration of the continued pressure of the ram correspondingly changed. Turning of this sleeve adjusts the length of the stem.

It will be manifest from the foregoing and has been demonstrated in practice that when the parts described are properly constructed and arranged the platens can be made to exert what may be termed abreathing action under the influence of the control and may be caused to open and close rapidly or very slowly, a range of adjustment being easily obtained from four seconds to five minutes for a complete cycle of operation. It will be manifest also that this control requires no mechanical devices requiring the application of moving power members and it can all be operated from a single water main. The parts are simple, not likely to become disarranged' or damaged and easily operable.

It is desirable that the time during which the platens are fully opened shall not be suflicient to permit the veneer within the drier to cool and my present device is so constructed that the variations of movement concern more the periods during which the platens are pressed against the veneer,-that is to say, the lengthening of the time of a cycle of operation results in increasing the time the platens are in action to a considerably greater amount than the increase of time such platens are retracted. This is because the water motor stem is out of contact with the valve stem throughout a portion of each operation. The valve stem notonly has a slower movement when the action of the water motor is slowed but also has a longer period of .rest in position supplying pressure to the platen operating ram. Since the slower pulsations are employed with the heavier veneers, the relatively small increase of dura-' tion of opening and accompanying relatively large increase of duration of closing provides an unusually efficient apparatus since the thick and heavy veneers do not cool so quickly.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in th form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a ram, a valve for controlling the action of said ramymechanical means for moving said valve in one direction and hydraulic means formoving said valve in the opposite direction against the action of said mechanical means, said hydraulic means having a control for imparting to the valve a periodic predetermined operation.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, ;the combination of a ram,.a valve for controlling the action of said ram, mechanical means for moving said valvein one direction and hydraulic means for moving said valve in the opposite direction against the action of said mechanical means, said hydraulic means comprising a hydraulic motor and an adjustable valve for controlling the rate of delivery of water under pressure thereto.

3 In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a ram, a water main adapted to carry water under ressure, a valve connected with said water main adapted to alternately connect said ram with said main and to provide a discharge from said ram, mechanical means moving said valve in one direction, hydraulic means for moving said valve in the opposite direction against the action of said mechanical means, and means for locking said mechanical means against the influence of said hydraulic means. g

4. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a ram, a 3-way valve for controlling the delivery of water under pressure to'said ram, a hydraulic motor for moving said valve in one direction and mechanical means for moving said valve in the opposite direction, said mechanical and hydraulic means operating against each other, and each being adjustable to control the action of said valve.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a ram, a valve for delivering water under pressure to said ram, and a water motor for operating said valve, said motor being movable out of engagement with said valve.

6. In a platen operating mechanism, the combination of a platen operating ram, a valve for controlling delivery of water under pressure to said ram, said valve having throughout a part of each cycle of operation of said control.

7. In a platen operating mechanism, the combination of a platen operating ram, a 3-way valve for controlling the delivery of water under pressure to said ram, a hydraulic motor for moving said valve in one direction, said motor having a stem adapted to engage beneath and lift the stem of said valve, one of said stems being adjustable to alter the duration of engagement therebetween at each operation of said motor.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a ram, a valve, and means for controlling the duration of the opening and closing periods of said ram, said means having influence on said valve during the duration of the opening period and relieving the valve of its influence during a portion of the periodof closing.

Signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

i M. E. BARRY,

THos. J. OBRIEN. 

